Southampton

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Southampton's performance in the second half in Wednesday's Carabao Cup quarter-final defeat to Liverpool offers some "positives" for whoever replaces Russell Martin as manager, says former Saints defender Francis Benali.

Under the interim charge of Simon Rusk, Southampton produced a tepid opening 45 minutes before improving after the break - pulling a goal back and pushing hard for an equaliser late on.

"There is the frustration of going out of a cup competition at this stage but there are positives they can and should take from the second half," Benali told the Football Daily podcast.

"There was very much an element of going through the motions in the first half. It was very dominant from Liverpool even with the changes that they made.

"For Southampton, the focus is clearly now back on Premier League survival and the appointment of a new manager who the team behind the scenes at St Mary's need to get in quickly.

"This is a position that needs to be filled as soon as possible because whoever is coming in needs time to work with the squad to try and stay up this season.

"There is a huge amount of work to be done."

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Former Southampton defender Francis Benali, speaking to BBC Radio 5 Sports Extra: "Southampton were pretty non-existent in the first half where they had to better in many, many ways.

"But it was understandable in the circumstances they find themselves in, with Simon Rusk having little time with the team after the departure of Russell Martin.

"But they were much better in the second half. They need to look back on what they did well in that second half to try to move forward during the rest of the Premier League season."

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There are three Carabao Cup quarter-finals on Wednesday.

• Arsenal v Crystal Palace 19:30

• Newcastle v Brentford 19:45 - listen on BBC Radio 5 Live

• Southampton v Liverpool 20:00 - listen on BBC Radio 5 Sports Extra

All kick-off times GMT

Follow all the action and reaction here

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Whether there is a feeling of relief at Southampton that they no longer have to play Russell Martin's style of football or whether there is anxiety over a change depends on the players.

Some of the players in that squad have been given an opportunity by Martin and as a consequence they would have tried everything they could to make it work out.

Unfortunately it has not worked out for them. As far as the style-of-play conversation goes, it is very easy to only talk about the negative side of things because of the goals they conceded - but it has also been responsible for goals they have scored and chances they created.

I think even though there will be a new manager coming in and the style of play may change a little bit, the fact is not many people outside of Southampton still believe in them anyway.

The conversation goes from being about the specifics of how they play, to how people still expect them to go down. Whether that is right or wrong, people have seen their style of play, the players they have and how many points they have on the board.

I think they will still feel the same levels of criticism but it will look slightly different because there will be a different point of focus for external people to discuss.

Nedum Onuoha was speaking to BBC Sport's Nat Hayward

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BBC Radio Sheffield's Rob Staton has offered some insight into what Southampton can expect if they appoint Sheffield Wednesday boss Danny Rohl to succeed the sacked Russell Martin at St Mary's.

While saying talk is "very quiet at the moment", Staton told BBC Radio Solent: "He wants to manage in the Premier League. He is a very ambitious manager.

"He also knows Southampton Football Club has the infrastructure of a Premier League team and, unfortunately, Sheffield Wednesday don't have that. For that reason, it's very appealing.

"On the other hand, he has done an unbelievable job at Sheffield Wednesday that can be considered a miracle last season. It's pretty much a minor miracle this year to have them ninth and five points off the [Championship] play-offs.

"He is very flexible. He will pick a team from the players available to him and he's willing to adjust.

"There was a period last season when Wednesday were trying to play out from the back. That led to a few issues so he changed it and they got some good results.

"He's not tied to one specific style of play. He's very much a student of the game and very data driven.

"He will pick a team and a style that he thinks is suitable to win and then work around the clock to prepare his team."

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Talks remain ongoing between Southampton and Sheffield Wednesday boss Danny Rohl over the managerial vacancy at St Mary's. (Sky Germany), external

Saints are also considering West Brom head coach Carlos Corberan as a candidate. (Sky Sports), external

Want more transfer news? Read Wednesday's full gossip column

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Interim Southampton boss Simon Rusk says it will be a "great honour" to take charge of the team against Liverpool, but he cannot get "overly emotional" about the situation.

Rusk, who joined the club as manager of the under-21s in the summer, has been put in temporary charge of the team following the sacking of Russell Martin on Sunday after the Saints' heavy 5-0 defeat at home by Tottenham.

The 43-year-old has a tough first task ahead of him as he prepares to face Premier League leaders and current Carabao Cup holders Liverpool in the quarter-final of the competition on Wednesday night.

Having only had one permanent role as a first-team manager, asked in his pre-match news conference if this would be up there among his experiences, he said: "Absolutely. We are working to prepare a game against one of the most in form teams in arguably the world or Europe. That speaks for itself.

"For me, I would ultimately like to focus on the process. If I become overly emotional in any aspect as a coach, I could start thinking and taking my eye off ball about what is the immediate task in hand. Where are the players at physically, mentally, emotionally? What is the opponent's strengths? What is the opponent's weaknesses? I just have to stick to that process

"What I would say is that it is a great honour. I have worked at the club since the summer, it has got a great tradition, the fanbase is super committed and loyal and they are behind the players. So for me, concentrating on that as my focus is the right and professional thing to do.

"There is always a period of reflection after, and it will be a proud moment for me without any shadow of a doubt and it is a great honour. It is a great honour to represent the club and guide them into such an important game."

Could Sheffield Wednesday boss Danny Rohl return to St Mary's, where he acted as assistant to Ralph Hassenhuttl?

Former Southampton striker Charlie Austin tells The Football News Show why he thinks Rohl would be a good choice to replace Russell Martin after he was sacked.

Watch the full episode on BBC iPlayer

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Former Southampton midfielder Jo Tessem considers the different options for who the next Saints manager should be on BBC Radio Solent Sport.

On whether Graham Potter is a potential candidate: "Southampton and Brighton are similar sides. He created a very good environment at Brighton, which didn't help him much at Chelsea. I don't know what Graham's thoughts on this are. Some managers are probably thinking it's a sinking ship because they think we are heading for the Championship. I think he's a good manager and could make changes."

On if current Sheffield Wednesday manager, Danny Rohl is the man for the job: "He has a lack of experience in the Premier League. What I think and what a lot of the fans believe is, are we really going to stay up when we are trailing behind this much already? I think he is a good man and has done a good job where he's been and has experience at different levels. The way I'm thinking is, does the board believe they're going to stay up? Is that why they told Russell that's it. Do they believe they can get through and what are they thinking for the January transfer window, is it already gone for us? Where does the board stand on this? I think the next appointment will show that."

On the possibility of David Moyes in the St Mary's dugout: "Maybe we need that kind of character.

"He's a little bit old school and there's nothing wrong with being like that as a manager, football is a simple game and you don't need to reinvent it all the time."

On if current West Brom manager, Carlos Corberan could take charge: "He's an interesting character. He's a promotion guy and he's been good at that. He hasn't taken that next level that the Premier league needs."

Listen to the full episode on BBC Sounds

Nicola Pearson
BBC Sport journalist

Southampton interim boss Simon Rusk has been speaking to the media before Wednesday's Carabao Cup quarter-final against Liverpool (kick-off 20:00 GMT).

Here are the key lines from his news conference:

• Rusk confirmed there are "no fresh injuries" that he is aware of, but there will still be situations being assessed in coming days before both the Liverpool and Fulham games.

• The interim coach said it has been a "hectic" time since he took charge following the sacking of Russell Martin on Sunday, but that "communication has been nice and clear on what is expected and my role in the next few days".

• Rusk said he has not had a lot of communication with the players yet after they had a day off on Monday, but added: "I have been with club since the summer and I know they are good guys, a good group of professionals. In my time with them they have been professional and I'm sure they will do their job."

• On confidence in being able to tighten up the side's defensive issues for this game: "For myself, I will be using my experience and the staff and what I do have available. The club has excellent infrastructure, great support and excellent senior players. I've been reflecting and watching games, I have got my own idea and on what is best for group but I will work with the players on that. Communication is key."

• Asked if he would like to be in the mix for the permanent position, he responded: "I'm a believer in staying present. Present for me is preparing the team to play Liverpool. The communication has been ongoing and excellent to myself. The best thing I can do is prepare the team as best as I can, what falls out of that will fall out. I've been in the game long enough to know that."

• Rusk confirmed he is "solely focusing on the Liverpool game" and any indication he will be in charge for the weekend's game will "come clearer after the game".

• On if they can take confidence and a blueprint from recent performance against the Reds in the league: "That is the challenge. When we analyse the game, it was not too long ago, so there will be aspects we want to retain, keep footprints of. But, we are in a different moment right now. We need to prepare in the most intelligent way possible."

• He added: "No plan survives first contact with enemy, but we will be ready."

Follow all of Tuesday's Carabao Cup news conferences and the rest of the day's football news

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Former Southampton midfielder Jo Tessem said performances from some Saints players against Tottenham were "embarrassing" and cannot be blamed on Russell Martin. He told BBC Radio Solent Sport: "That [defeat] was completely on the players for me.

"There were some performances on that pitch that were embarrassing and that had nothing to do with Russell Martin.

"I don't know anything about what goes on behind the scenes but it was almost like the players knew that he had lost his job, that's how bad it was.

"We didn't turn up. We didn't win our one-on-ones. We didn't mark. We didn't position ourselves in the right position. [Kyle] Walker Peters had a nightmare of a game. He gave away so much space and when you don't do the job you set to do on the pitch, you look even sillier and that's how we looked in the first half. It could've been more goals."

Jo Tessem believes Russell Martin got 'really stuck in his ways' throughout his tenure as manager: "I do think you need to have principles. We all have ways we want to play and Russell has it as well and there is nothing wrong with it, he stuck to his guns. He's chosen his pathway. In the Premier League, you have to be adaptable, you have to help your players more and this is the fault of many managers, can they get a little bit stuck to what they do? And I think Russell got really stuck in his ways and didn't adapt well enough and the mistakes we made over and over again. They were too similar."

"I'm not surprised [about Martin's sacking] because it's a tough league. We've got to send him off and say Merry Christmas because he got us back to the Premier League. He's done good things for the club, we have to remember that and what we went through last season. He managed to get us to a play-off final, so there are positives, but in the Premier League we got eaten alive and we still are. We need to adapt a little better."

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New York Times Chief Football Correspondent Rory Smith, says the "principles" that got Russell Martin the Southampton job "have now cost him."

Martin, who was sacked Sunday evening following the 5-0 thrashing by Tottenham, had refused to compromise on his possession-based passing style that helped them to win promotion from the Championship last season.

"I think given the results, it's not a surprise that Southampton decided they had to do something," said Smith on BBC Radio 5 Live's Monday Night Club. "There's an awful lot of money riding on staying in the Premier League.

"It is hard to make the case that they've acted rashly, or harshly, or unthinkably. Everyone looking at the Premier League table can understand it.

"I do feel bad for Russell Martin on the grounds that he was a manager who had principles and believed in the long-term benefits of standing by those principles. It looks on the outside that he hasn't been willing to bend those principles and that's cost him his job.

"But then if you look at the list of potential replacements for him, they are all managers who play in a very similar way. There is no sort of suggestion that Southampton are going to do something completely different. They will go for a high-pressing, expansive type football manager.

"Maybe it's just that his voice wasn't working, and it was his principles that got him the job that have now cost him."

Listen to the Monday Night Club on BBC Sounds

BBC Radio 5 Live's Monday Night Club discussed Southampton's playing style and how the players should have been taking more responsibility and spoken to Russell Martin about changing their style.

Former Liverpool defender Stephen Warnock said he would have "100%" spoken to his manager about altering their tactics if this issue was to have happened during his playing career.

"You've got your defenders on the ball constantly - who are not good players

"Your defenders are not as good as midfielders and attackers naturally on the ball, but essentially they're having more possession than any other player on the team because they don't know how to get it through the lines.

"You're going up against tactically better teams than you - you have got to adapt. You have got to find a different way."

Watch the full episode on BBC iPlayer or listen on BBC Sounds

Southampton are considering making an approach for Sheffield Wednesday's 35-year-old German manager Danny Rohl after sacking Russell Martin. (Times - subscription required), external

Want more transfer stories and gossip? Read Tuesday's full column

Ray Hunt
Fan writer

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Sport Republic pulled the trigger on Russell Martin on Sunday night. The final straw, and embarrassing 5-0 home defeat by Tottenham, leaving us eight points from safety with one win in 16.

In 17 months at the helm, he amassed 34 wins from his 73 games, all but one of those coming in last season's promotion-winning campaign.

His playing style had come under heavy scrutiny since our return to the top flight, as had his ability to adapt to the rigours of the Premier League.

And the stats are damning. Saints rank 20th in goals scored, shots on target, chances created, ball recoveries and errors leading to shots and goals.

The change is not really a surprise but, maybe, it should have been made sooner. Last season's success earned him more time, but the majority of fans believe it is too little, too late.

Under-21s boss Simon Rusk will take temporary charge and oversee Wednesday's Carabao Cup quarter-final against Liverpool.

The big question is: who is next in the dugout?

Favourites range from Rafael Benitez, Graham Potter, David Moyes, Carlos Corberan and a return of Danny Rohl, who previously worked under Ralph Hasenhuttl.

Whoever takes this on has an almighty challenge on their hands. No team has survived the drop from this position previously, so it has to be considered a poisoned chalice.

No-one will want a relegation on their CV. Appointing a manager with no experience at this level will be another step backwards.

Benitez, Potter and Moyes are tried and tested, but may be out of our reach.

Over to you, Sport Republic.

I would like to take this opportunity to thank Russell Martin for giving us a season we will never forget and one of the club's greatest days at Wembley. All the very best.

Find more from Ray Hunt at the In that Number podcast, external

BBC Radio Solent are doing a Southampton special to discuss the sacking of Russell Martin on Monday.

Tune into the hour-long show from 18:00 GMT on BBC Sounds

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We asked for your views on Russell Martin, who has been dismissed by Southampton after Sunday's defeat to Tottenham.

Here are some of your comments:

Noel: Best outcome. Martin was completely out of his depth and too arrogant to change the tactics. Please bring in a Premier League manager with the strength to kick a few butts and have a plan B. My choice is Graham Potter.

Chris: The sacking of Martin was as inevitable as it is pointless. Just more money (that we don't have) down the drain. He's proved that he can get us promoted. Should've saved the money, planned for next season and then sack him at the end of next season, regardless of whether we get promoted or not.

Ian: The lack of quality in the squad wasn't down to Martin, but his inability to recognise that they couldn't successfully execute his way of playing certainly was.

Tony: Should have done it weeks ago. Only someone like big Sam or Tony Pulis has any chance of saving us now.

Paul: Deluded board at Southampton. I can't see the point of sacking Martin at this stage of the season. Who in their right mind will want the job now?

Charles: I think it's a bit late to stop relegation but perhaps give Gary O'Neil the job until the end of the season because he has a point to prove - unlike David Moyes who has had his time.

Highlights and analysis from Sunday's four Premier League fixtures, plus the best of the action from the rest of the weekend.

If you missed Match of the Day 2, catch up now on BBC iPlayer.

And you can watch Saturday's Match of the Day here.

Listen back to the weekend's full match commentaries on BBC Sounds:

• Liverpool 2-2 Fulham

• Nottingham Forest 2-1 Aston Villa

• Brighton 1-3 Crystal Palace

• Man City 1-2 Man Utd